362 M EM O IK S of the 
the only queftion that remains; to dor this we muft remember, 
that the 8th pair of nerves which ferves for the heart's contrac- 
tion has its rife from the fides of the Medulla oblongata behind 
the ''Proceffus annularis, by feveral threads which join together, 
and go out by the fame hole, that the Sinus laterales difcharge 
themfelves into the jugulars ; and fince the union by the Atlas 
is not lo firm and compact as in the other Vertebr<e, it is evident 
that there is no extraordinary hindrance, why fome of thele 
wounding particles may not come at that nerve, fince either it, 
or confiderable branches thereof run fupcrficially enough upon 
iheneck. 
From all this may be deduced thefe following corollaries : 
I. That the operation of a blifter is great and fudden. 2. That 
the wounding of this nerve or a branch of it, is fo ablblutely 
neceffary for curing a delirium and a fever, that whatfoevcr 
milchief the applying of vaft numbers of bliftcrs over all the 
body may do, yet the main end is neglefted, if you forget a 
large one on the upper part of the nape of the neck. 5. That if 
there is no vefication after the laying on a ftrong plaiftcr, it ne- 
ceflarily caufes a new and prodigious hardnefs in the fkin and 
veffelsjand a thickening ofthe blood for a further total ftoppage. 
^e Nature and Qualities of Silk 5 by Mr. Will.Aglionby. 
PhTl.Tranf. N°252. p. 183. 
SILK, which is the fpittle of a worm, hath either its good 
or bad qualities from the nouriihment the worm receives 
from a good or bad leaf 5 when the fpring proves agreeable, the 
worm feeding on a good and tender leaf, free from the injuries 
of an unkind feafon, which fometimes fpoils the leaf by giving 
it a rough, grofs and heavy nature, then may be expected a pro- 
fitable harveft, sihout Midfimmer or St. yobn'S'tide, they begin 
in \Piedmont to draw the filk, to fee what it yields, and judge of 
its increale and fcarcity, as well as of its goodnefs and perfec- 
tions, which are, that it proves clean, light and ftrong. The 
goodnefs of filk is diflingui(hed by its lightnefs as the moft 
effential quality ; it is to be noted that the Organcine is fuper- 
fine, it being the beft fort 3 that the two threads are equal in fine- 
neis, that is to fay, both alike in fmoothnefs, thicknefs and 
length, for the thread of the firft twift 5 for the fecond it matters 
not whether the fingle thread be ftrong before the two are join'd, 
unlefs to fee whether the firft twift prove well ; it is neceffary 
the filk be clean 5 the ftraw-colour is commonly the lighteft, and 
the white the heavicft of all 3 it is likewife convenient that the 
ikegns 
